Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 05:08:47 pm

Title: Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 05:08:47 pm
I just got this today. It is going to be a Mame Battlezone cabinet. It may possibly run vindicators as well.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 05:10:00 pm
Where have all the back doors gone? You can just kind of see the intact original wiring harness in this picture.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 05:11:16 pm
Closeup of the only cabinet damage to speak of. Just that long scratch, which is mostly on the white.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 05:12:40 pm
The periscope area is in primo condition.

The guy I got it from did not realize that I wanted to use the mirror and backdrop, so he is going to bring them to me later.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: AlanS17 on August 21, 2003, 07:21:45 pm
Don't forget to Lysol that sucker! God only knows what kind of sicknesses can enter the body through the eyes...
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 21, 2003, 10:15:56 pm
I am going to document this project completely in this thread.

The first order of business was cleaning the thick layer of nicotine and junk off the cabinet. I spent about 30 minutes on the sideart, and most of the white area is white again now. I also bought a rubber stair cover for the step, but I haven't installed it yet, because I need to paint it first.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: pointdablame on August 22, 2003, 01:33:54 am
I'm jealous, that is very cool.

On a slightly off topic note tho, where the heck do you put all these cabs paige??  :P
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: TheGatesofBill on August 22, 2003, 01:45:18 am
The guy who I got my cabinet from had one of these in his garage as well. His was in considerably worse condition though.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 22, 2003, 02:00:33 am
I have the Battlezone, the Amazing Maze, the Artic Mini, and the Time Pilot cocktail in my bedroom. I have a video poker cabinet out in my shed. Stored at Dave's house is my Kangaroo, the Space Firebird mini, and Crystal Castles, and stored at Ryan's house is my pinball machine. I also used to have a Turbo, Assault, and Top Gunner at Ryans as well, but his wife said they had to go, so I sold them.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: pathdoc2 on August 22, 2003, 12:47:25 pm
This is really cool.  I love Battlezone.  Is the original vector monitor still in the cab?  If it is will you keep it in there?
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: Sprucemoose on August 22, 2003, 02:20:16 pm
Paigeoliver,
There are therapy groups available for your addiction.  lol

Nice cab.  I have not seen one of those for years.  Enjoy!
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 22, 2003, 05:04:31 pm
Nope the monitor is gone. I don't think anyone is lucky enough to have someone deliver them a free vector game WITH the monitor.

I am going to use one of those 21" Kiosk monitors installed where the original was, and will be using the original mirror and backdrop art as well.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 25, 2003, 12:30:39 am
I acquired an original mirror and backdrop artwork set today. The last piece of the puzzle I need now is an Atari cone start button. And darn if those are not HARD to find.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: jcoleman on August 25, 2003, 04:37:59 pm
You mean one of these?

http://sparhawk.sbc.edu/coleman/IMAG0021.JPG

Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 25, 2003, 11:26:20 pm
You mean one of these?

http://sparhawk.sbc.edu/coleman/IMAG0021.JPG



Yes, but with the cone assembly too. Those look to be just the button part. My Kangaroo has a couple of them, as did my old Assault. They kind of look like little volcanos.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: jcoleman on August 26, 2003, 10:35:29 am
No, the cones are on there.  They're just short.

Or perhaps you are looking for these cones?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=3239212738

My buttons came off a "Gimme A Break" cp.

John
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 26, 2003, 06:46:56 pm
Hmmm, double checking it appears that Battlezone uses the shorter black ones.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: SirPoonga on August 26, 2003, 06:53:33 pm
FYI, Atari made two volcanos, black and silver.  
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 26, 2003, 10:40:34 pm
Yeah, and checking what the things cost I will be better off trying to snag a panel that has one on it, rather than just buying the button itself. If I can't find a correct one, then I will try and find a lighted button at autozone that fits the hole. I don't HAVE to have a correct button, but I WILL NOT drill out to use a larger one.

I also need to try and find another pair of the bezels for the joysticks, one of mine is cracked, and the other one is actually a Sprint 2 shifter bezel, which is the same part, but it has 1, 2, 3, and 4 printed on it.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: CitznFish on August 27, 2003, 01:04:31 am
once in a while on RGVAC I see someone offering repro versions... 6 bux for 2 or something like that.. i think i posted the info on here 4 months ago but I refuse to try and use search.. I don't have the paitence tonight. :)
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on August 28, 2003, 10:54:56 pm
Just spent a few hours with a black sharpie making about 100 assorted touch ups on the black parts of the sideart. The black was always the last color screened on Atari sideart, and thus it was usually the first one to rub off.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on September 25, 2003, 04:31:09 pm
A few more updates.

I rebuilt the stair area a few weeks ago and covered it with new rubber.

A long time ago I ordered a couple of those "ghetto" keyboard encoders from 'profounddevices" on ebay. They finally showed up, longer after I left negative feedback, and a week after the seller got kicked off ebay. So now I have an encoder to use for this cabinet.

Just bought a Pentium2 400 for $19.50 off ebay to power the software side of things. I bought it local, so no shipping charges!

I also recently bought a Kangaroo panel that had the correct start button that I needed.

So basically, all I have to do now is put the thing together!
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: IceCold on September 27, 2003, 05:09:25 pm
A few more updates.

I rebuilt the stair area a few weeks ago and covered it with new rubber.

A long time ago I ordered a couple of those "ghetto" keyboard encoders from 'profounddevices" on ebay. They finally showed up, longer after I left negative feedback, and a week after the seller got kicked off ebay. So now I have an encoder to use for this cabinet.

Just bought a Pentium2 400 for $19.50 off ebay to power the software side of things. I bought it local, so no shipping charges!

I also recently bought a Kangaroo panel that had the correct start button that I needed.

So basically, all I have to do now is put the thing together!
I got my keyboard encoder from that person like within a week from paying.  And that was only like a month or two ago.  I wonder why I got mine so fast? I would really like to buy some more, too bad he got kicked off ebay.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on November 27, 2003, 12:52:52 am
Just got around to working on this again. I removed all the original wiring in one piece, and got the backdrop artwork and half silvered mirror mounted.

By the way, did you know that a Battlezone cabinet is large enough to stand up inside of?  ;D
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: RetroJames on November 27, 2003, 06:51:48 pm
As you are "MAMEing" the cab, does that mean mame to run b'zone or other games as well?  I am just curious if you plan to keep the periscope on the unit etc?
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: paigeoliver on November 28, 2003, 12:05:48 am
It is going to be Battlezone only. No other roms at all.

Everything else will be as original, periscope, the control panel. the half silvered mirror, the backdrop artwork, and the original green and red monitor overlay are all being used.
Title: Re:Battlezone project acquired
Post by: menace on November 28, 2003, 07:25:52 am
I play this at my brothers some time--its amazing how such a simple game can be so addictive--congrats on the find!